The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

CKhalvashi

Welcome back Sue, sorry about my objectionable post last night, I’d had a few to drink beforehand!

3 cigarettes in 7 days of quitting! Better than 280 by a long shot!

Had a sneaky one this morning, but determined not to again!

Money_maker

This is day 7 on Easyway book. Easy to stop and resist but finding it so hard to continue. Think I must have misread a chapter or two as I'm not a happy non-smoker but a really miserable one.

I really can't get excited about saving over £60, increasing my life by a day or anything. Kids are proud of me, friends are pleased with me and my house smells really nice now... but I feel so depressed and down. 40 smokes a day leaves a lot of gaps in the day.

I didn't want to do NRT in the end, wanted to be clean. Have read lots and lots on this addiction and how hard it is to break free. Feel ashamed cos some peeps are going through really bad times yet I can't shake myself out of this. Dreamt I had a smoke in my car last night!

OH smoking outside only or e-cig indoors. Have no problem with that.

Well done to all of you who have stopped for so long. One friend told me that stopping smoking was her greatest achievement. Wish I could feel the same.

smileytiger

Money_maker wrote: »

This is day 7 on Easyway book. Easy to stop and resist but finding it so hard to continue. Think I must have misread a chapter or two as I'm not a happy non-smoker but a really miserable one.

I really can't get excited about saving over £60, increasing my life by a day or anything. Kids are proud of me, friends are pleased with me and my house smells really nice now... but I feel so depressed and down. 40 smokes a day leaves a lot of gaps in the day.

I didn't want to do NRT in the end, wanted to be clean. Have read lots and lots on this addiction and how hard it is to break free. Feel ashamed cos some peeps are going through really bad times yet I can't shake myself out of this. Dreamt I had a smoke in my car last night!

OH smoking outside only or e-cig indoors. Have no problem with that.

Well done to all of you who have stopped for so long. One friend told me that stopping smoking was her greatest achievement. Wish I could feel the same.

You need to keep busy and replace all those times when you would have a fag with something else. It's a good time to take up a new hobby, start a new night class etc..It needs to be a new start - otherwise you'll feel like you're missing something. Do something daft - or have a go at something you normally wouldn't - becuase any new activity is then associated with not smoking, whereas stuff you do now is..if you see what i mean.

Good luck
Chrissie..xx

Sue-UU

Very many thanks indeed EVERYONE!!! You really are all so very kind. What a terrific bunch to be among. Thanks for the other relaxation names, much appreciated.

Hi Money maker,

Please start the book again, from the beginning right on through and hang onto every word, allow your mind to completely absorb all the info. Do it as often as necessary. Get plenty of fresh air and really exercise hard. Go on outside and have a really brisk walk, there's nothing like exercise to put you into a totally different frame of mind as it releases the endorphins into your brain making you feel so much better about yourself!! Put some DVDs on indoors or if you have a Wii console use it with or without the kiddies.

Chrissie is right with what she says too, get yourself a hobby..an old one taken up again..or a new one that you try, even enjoy too with luck and patience. It's vital to focus your mind on anything you believe will help. Are you a knitter..or crocherer? Is sewing your thing? Try a new language if one appeals, plenty of next to nowt courses on line and you tube, same with knitting and crochet - you can learn the lot on there right from scratch!

You say your kiddies are proud of you and I'm sure they are as they've possibly worried how much harm it could do to you both! If saving some weeks/months maybe even years of life doesn't motivate you then view it another way; If you don't stick to your guns and give this a really good try then imagine how they and your hubby, relatives and friends would feel - YOU too - if you succumbed to a smoking-related illness?!!!!!!

Imagine the horror of it all as you watch someone slowly choking themselves to an early grave with lung cancer, the days being counted down until.......! Or with a cripplling disease such as COPD or emphasyma where you can barely breathe! They truly are terrible, I promise you! Imagine you being watched by your own children and know that all weeks, months and years are so very precious to us all. YOU CAN do this Money maker, it truly is possible, but you need to put in all you can to help yourself. Sadly, we can't do this for you, but YOU can!

You did well letting all your feelings come out above, that was brilliant, keep doing so. Screaming into a pillow helps vent frustration and if you feel like a good cry...don't hold back. Gather your kiddies together and ask them to help you through this marvellous time of your LIFE, let them know they're needed! Kids love to feel important and helpful, let them in.

You're female and we have the additional hormone problems, could this be a certain time for you?? If so, remember that it won't last long. Have a go at the Rescue Remedy or see some of the ones oldreekie recommends above, it's sooo worth it. All your're doig right now is for LIFE - YOURS!!!!!!

Love and so very many {{{hugs}}}

Sue xxxx

joe14729

Nicotine patches are by far the best way to give up. Put them over your eyes and you won,t be able to find your fags :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

choille

Welcome back Sue - All the very best to you. You've been greatly missed.

CK - We'll have to talk sternly to you & get you to throw all your cigs away. You shouldn't be able to have a sneaky one unless you've got a secret stash or are scroungingthem off someone who is daft enough to give you one. You're doing really well though - just don't look back - start afresh cig free.

Money maker - I had a down feeling when I stopped it's the brain chemicals changing & takes a wee while to settle down. Have a cry if you feel like it - it's a sort of mourning for what can have been a close crutch - a friend in a way (that did us no good I may add). Some folks say that sunflower seeds replace something that cigs had that we miss.....sorry to not really know what chemical it is. Dark chocolate is good to get the endorphins going - that's my excuse. Reading can help.
Hope you feel better soon{{{{{{{Money Maker}}}}}}}

Wishing everyone a happier easier time.

oldreekie

{{{{{Money maker}}}}}

As Sue says, please keep reading your book and keep talking about how you feel, Money maker. Cry, scream and take lots of brisk 5 - 10 mins walk in the cold air, if at all possible. I did all three at once, much to the astonishment of the sheep in an adjoining field!:D

Please consider our suggetions: the avena sativa, Quiet Life (saved me!), dark chocolate (tryptophan), lettuce (tryptophan) & the sunflower seeds (tryptophan).

Find something to do for which you have never had the time or money. Research your family tree (that is addictive!), exercise classes, decorate the house. Something that is achievable and you can feel good about.

We know little about you, money maker, other than you have wonderful children and that you want to kick the nicotine addiction. We can only offer support and suggestions but "one size does not fit all". Only you can find the way through but please don't stop stopping.:)

oldreekie

daveys_2

Sue-UU wrote: »

Hi Denis and Davey!!! Very well done lads on your terrific stats and achievements - so very well earned! Still saving well for that holiday, Davey?

Hi Sue - yes the the holiday's booked and paid for (out of my smokless fund)

We're going to the Algarve for a week in May, and we're both looking forward to it.

Last week I got rid of my surplus of nicotine replacement products. I had 2 boxes of patches left over, and about 4 packs of the micro lozenges.

spicyprawn

green1970 wrote: »

Hi Spicyprawn, I don't have eczema so can't comment on that but I do have very very sensitive skin. A few things I like that are calming are:

Cleanser - Lipikar Syndet body cleansing gel from La Roche Posay - this is meant for body but it's so gentle, I use it on my face. It's foaming but not stripping at all. Here's their website but i get mine from pharmacy at hand online - http://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/product-treatments/Lipikar/Lipikar-Syndet-p687.aspx Actually, looking at the website, it seems like the whole range is designed for eczema. I know when my skin flares up like you say with dry tight, wrinkled skin, it means my skin barrier has damaged and I have to use just two or three really calming products until it feels strong and not tender any more.

Moisturiser/primer (for under makeup) - La Roche Posay Cicaplast. This is designed for recovery of the skin after a chemical peel when it's got to that wrinkled, about to shed stage. Again, it's a barrier healer. If you need to wear make-up during the day, I'd use this as a primer underneath so you don't look flaky.

Moisturiser for night. It sounds like you've got a good night product there anyway - I'd keep that going or see if your GP can refer you to a dermatologist to see if they can suggest anything better.

With the last order I placed, they sent me a couple of samples - Nutritic & Lipikar Surgras - if you'd like me to send them to you, give me a shout. http://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/product-treatments/Nutritic/Nutritic-2-5-p793.aspx http://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/product-treatments/Lipikar/Lipikar-SURGRAS-p690.aspx

While you're doing all this protection from the outside, it might be a good idea to boost your supplements that help joints and contain hyaluronic acid/collagen to try and strengthen your skin from the inside out.

Sorry if this was too much to take in, I'm a total skincare nut lately. I really hope it gets better soon. Don't be tempted to try loads and loads of different things while it's sore and tight like this.

Hi green (you will have to excuse my spelling errors today:o Im not doing good today)

My skin has got worse but I musn't cry as this hurts it too! I am getting random itchy lumps (look like nettle rash) which I have been putting up with for about a year but because my skin is like this now they are bothering me! My eyes just don't want to know at all and I can not put anything other than epaderm or hydromol ointment on it as it has the least amount of ingredients.Can't find my hydrocortisone anywhere, it doesn't help either but at least its doesn't feel horrid. I can put my head back and it pulls my bottom lip right down which is how tight it is on my neck too. Anyway skin vent over! Thank you for all your skincare advice, I'm not keen on buying from the net but I have written the products down and when my skin is better I might buy some.

I bought some coconut oil but that doesn't agree with me either. I was using it on body where my eczema has gone.

Unfortunately unless the docs have made a new cream recently I have tried them all

DH has taken the girls out and is going to buy me some olay to try when my face is better too. So I guess I shall keep doing buying and trying until something helps my face to work! I cant do this at the mo as it will split

Thanks again for your advice and for you listening to my little vent

Spicy

spicyprawn

oldreekie wrote: »

Spicyprawn - the NOT NICE STUFF has been discussed often on here! The bloating is a common side effect and it will go away once your digestion gets used to not having nicotine in the system.

I am not sure about the heartburn but maybe it is connected to what I have said about the bloating. Can you ride it out with Gavescon or similar; just until you can see if it is a passing thing? Hopefully, someone on here has the answer for you.

Ahh, bowels! Stange, because most folk complain about the constipation. You are lucky! Could be normal for the non-smoking you.

I think the water is for the first few days: flushing the system and to drink whenever the urge to smoke comes on. Any type of water. If you are okay drinking coffee and it is not making you crave for a cigarette, then why deny yourself? I began drinking blue tea when I became a non-smoker and have not given up the coffee habit. That would be asking too much!

Excerise - see the bit above about Pilates. Some non-smokers on here have begun the NHS Couch to 5K programme though not too sure how that will affect your knee and PGP. Only you know your limits.

Have a great smoke free weekend, everyone.
oldreekie

Thanks oldreekie, I am carrying on with my tea

Sue-UU wrote: »

Hi Spicy and aren't you still doing so well too!!! I'm hoping by now that you'll have earned at least some hearty recognition from your loved ones of you having stopped - if not, it can wait until you're even further away from old Nic!!!

The heartburn may be just a temporary thing while your body adjusts (see below also), so why not use some Gaviscon to help through then try without after about a month and see how it goes. It's the same with the pooey stuff - another way of your body getting shot of some of the rubbish within. Also, before you stopped smoking your metabolism worked at a different rate to what it's doing now, let it settle down and all will come right. Re the nausea, (another natural annoyance for a little while) take a tin of ginger biscuits to bed so that - before you get up in the morning - you can have at least 1 biccy; the ginger in it has great anti-nausea properties! If you find that helpful then consider getting some ginger from a healthfood supplier, just enough to tide you over in the early days.

The great thing I'd suggest for the shakes is Dr Bach's Rescue Remedy, it's totally natural and really does relax us whenever we're a bit stressed or shaky, as in your case. Water by itself isn't vital for you now as it is may not help your heartburn! There's no reason you can't have tea with it, coffee too if it's not something that won't affect you craving wise. Get as much gentle exercise as is possible, but as you have the arthritis (me too!) then do as much walking as you can, it'll also help with the bloating. Re the Wii do all the dance routines except anything which means bending. Yes - exercise for arthritic joints is a good thing, but in moderation! Try swimming as that's not weight-bearing and will do your knees good. Also, see your GP, he/she will be able to help and advise you, likewise with the PGP, you do need guidance.

Hi Sue, good to hear you back

My Dad didn't notice and couldn't remember me saying I was stopping hehe, he said he is very proud ''well done blu''
I don't really see anyone much, my sis is in the armed forces but not too far away, most of the time it is the petrol cost. She does text me to see how I am getting on which is lovely.
My non smoking friend popped round the other day and she is also proud. My smoking friend hinted that she would like to stop too, her sister stopped last year and me this year so I think it has got her thinking.

Ah ginger biccies! These came in handy with morning (all day and night) sickness I have some on hand at the ready. My OH has rennies so using one of those at night which is helping.

Dr Bachs rescue remedy I shall be looking at today as I need to go shopping. I don't want to go as people stare at my stupid face :rotfl: But I can be an ignoramus for today I suppose.

I think I will have to bite the bullet and go see the doctor about the exercise. I could walk more places I suppose, don't really go out much but if it is a short journey I will walk it.

Swimming is something I want to do more but I get scared of what my skin is going to do so I always put it off. My DDs faces light up when I do go and get in and not just watching so really I should just go in!

Thanks again Sue



Hope everyone else is getting on ok, onwards and upwards as they say

Spicy